OxiTab: the lower-cost, easy-store Rescue (AHP) alternative for vets, shelters & kennels.
★ Verdict: OxiTab wins on valueTwo trusted disinfectants for animal care. We compared OxiTab NaDCC tablets against Rescue accelerated hydrogen peroxide head-to-head on:
- Cost per gallon
- Animal & healthcare pathogen coverage
- Contact (kill) times
- Safety & signal word
- Storage & sustainability
Trusted by animal-care pros who value safety for pets, staff & the environment
OxiTab vs Rescue (AHP), at a glance.
The four numbers that matter most for animal-care facilities. If you only read one block on this page, read this one.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Every row backed by manufacturer specs, EPA labels, or third-party testing. Sources listed in the references section.
| Feature | OxiTab | Rescue (AHP) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per gallonAt parvo / high-risk strength (1:32) | $1.50 | ~$2.16$0.83–$1.08 at 1:64 daily dilution | OxiTab |
| Active ingredient | NaDCC → HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) | Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) | OxiTab |
| Format | Dry tablet dissolved in water | Liquid RTU, wipes, or concentrate | OxiTab |
| Pathogen coverageAnimal + healthcare organisms | Parvovirus, canine coronavirus, avian influenza, calicivirus, Bordetella, ringworm + C. diff, Candida auris, TB, Norovirus, SARS-CoV-2 | Parvovirus, Bordetella, feline calicivirus, canine adenovirus, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 | OxiTab |
| Typical dilution | 1 tablet per 1 gallon | 1:64 daily · 1:32 high-risk/parvo · RTU available | OxiTab |
| Contact (kill) time | 1–10 min depending on pathogen | 1–5 min depending on pathogen | Rescue |
| Wipe / rinse after use | Air-dry on non-food-contact; rinse bowls & waterers | Air-dry on non-food-contact; rinse bowls & waterers | Tie |
| Storage & logistics | 1 pail of 500 tablets = 500 gallons | 1 gal makes 32 (parvo) to 64 (daily) gallons; bulk jugs & reorders | OxiTab |
| Safety signal word | Caution (lowest EPA tier) | Warning | OxiTab |
| Environmental impact | Breaks down to salt; minimal tablet packaging | Breaks down to water & oxygen; liquid/wipe plastic waste | OxiTab |
What you save with OxiTab.
Run the numbers for your facility at the dilution that kills parvo. Rescue is figured at its 1:32 high-risk / parvo dilution (4 oz per gallon); OxiTab kills parvo at its standard 1 tablet per gallon.
OxiTab monthly cost
Rescue monthly cost
Your savings with OxiTab
Not sure how many gallons you use? Start here.
Typical monthly disinfectant-solution use for a pet daycare by facility size (~26 operating days/month). Plug your number into the calculator above.
Estimates for planning only — actual use depends on square footage, dog count, and cleaning frequency.
One tablet replaces the whole Rescue lineup.
Rescue ships as separate RTU liquid, wipes, and concentrate — multiple SKUs to stock, store, and reorder. OxiTab does all of it from a single non-hazardous tablet, so there's no need to keep hazardous disinfectant and wipes on hand.
One OxiTab tablet
Surfaces, floors, cages & tools — one non-hazardous solution
The real cost to kill Parvo.
Both products carry an EPA-registered canine parvovirus claim. Here's what it actually costs to mix one gallon of disinfectant strong enough to kill parvo correctly.
Both carry an EPA-registered canine parvovirus claim. OxiTab kills parvo at its standard 1-tablet-per-gallon dose (1,076 ppm) — so you get parvo-level protection at the everyday price.
EPA Registered. Non-Hazardous. Animal-Safe.
OxiTab is EPA registered, classified non-hazardous, and dries to a salt residue that's safe for animals once dry — ideal for kennels, runs, exam rooms, and adoption areas.
Safe for animals, staff, and the environment.
Rescue is an EPA "Warning" peroxide. OxiTab is a non-hazardous "Caution" HOCl tablet — gentle in the room and on the planet.
Safe for animals
Dries to a salt residue that's safe for pets once dry. No harsh fumes lingering in runs or recovery areas.
- Dries to a simple salt residue — no soap film
- No strong chemical odor in kennels
- EPA-registered parvovirus claim
- Rescue: detergent residue; occasional rinse advised
- Rescue: "Warning" signal word
Safe for staff
Lowest EPA toxicity tier. Less harsh than concentrated peroxide, which can irritate skin and eyes with frequent exposure.
- "Caution" — lowest EPA tier
- Non-hazardous classification
- Simple tablet-in-water mixing
- Rescue: peroxide irritation risk
Safe for the environment
One lightweight tablet replaces gallons of liquid concentrate — far less plastic packaging and shipping weight.
- Breaks down into salt
- Minimal tablet packaging
- Lighter shipping footprint
- Rescue: liquid & wipe plastic waste
Which one fits your facility?
Not every product is right for every environment. Here's where OxiTab pulls ahead in animal care.
Veterinary clinics
Broad animal + healthcare coverage for exam rooms, cages, and surgical-area surfaces.
Animal shelters
Broad-spectrum coverage and easy bulk mixing for high-volume daily cleaning — one pail makes 500 gallons.
Boarding kennels
Dissolves in mop buckets and sprayers — one tablet per gallon for runs and floors.
Pet grooming
Disinfect tables, tubs, and tools between clients with animal-safe, low-odor solution.
The verdict: OxiTab is the better value for animal care.
Rescue earns its reputation on fast kill times and convenient wipes. But on cost, coverage breadth, storage, and safety tier, OxiTab wins — which is why shelters and clinics are switching to cut budgets without cutting protection.
OxiTab
- Lower cost at parvo strength — $1.50/gal vs Rescue's ~$2.16 (1:32)
- Broader coverage — animal + healthcare organisms (C. diff, Candida auris, TB)
- Compact — one pail of 500 tablets = 500 gallons
- Lower EPA tier — "Caution" vs Rescue's "Warning"
- Animal-safe salt residue once dry
- Less packaging waste & lighter shipping
Rescue (AHP)
- Faster on some claims — 1–5 min kill times
- Convenient RTU wipes for quick turnovers
- Costs more than OxiTab at parvo-killing strength (~$2.16/gal)
- Animal-focused list (narrower than OxiTab)
- "Warning" signal word; peroxide irritation risk
- Bulky jugs & wipes; frequent reorders
Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions we hear from buyers comparing OxiTab to Rescue (AHP).
Is OxiTab a good Rescue disinfectant alternative?
Yes. OxiTab is EPA-registered and covers major animal pathogens including parvovirus, Bordetella, and coronaviruses — plus healthcare organisms like C. diff and Candida auris — at a much lower cost per gallon than Rescue.
Which works better against canine parvovirus?
Both are EPA-registered for canine parvovirus. Per OxiTab's EPA label, parvo is killed at 1,076 ppm — OxiTab's standard 1-tablet-per-gallon dose — in 4 minutes. Rescue kills parvo in about 5 minutes at its 1:32 high-risk dilution (4 oz per gallon). So on parvo specifically, OxiTab is both slightly faster and modestly cheaper: $1.50 per gallon vs about $2.16 at Rescue's parvo dilution.
Which has faster kill times?
Across the full pathogen list, Rescue's contact times run 1–5 minutes and OxiTab's run 1–10 minutes depending on the organism and ppm. But for the claims that matter most in animal care, OxiTab is highly competitive — for example, it kills canine parvovirus in 4 minutes (vs Rescue's 5). For outbreak response, always follow each product's label dwell time.
Which is safer around animals?
OxiTab dries to a salt residue that's safe once dry and carries a "Caution" signal word — the lowest EPA toxicity tier. Rescue breaks down into water and oxygen but still carries a "Warning" signal word and can irritate skin and eyes with frequent exposure.
Which is more cost effective?
It depends on the job. At parvo / high-risk strength (1:32, 4 oz per gallon), OxiTab is about 30% cheaper — $1.50/gal vs ~$2.16/gal — saving a 300-gallon/month facility roughly $2,400 a year. For routine daily cleaning at 1:64, Rescue can run slightly cheaper per gallon; there, OxiTab's bigger advantages are broader pathogen coverage, a 3-year shelf life, the lower "Caution" safety tier, and a salt (not detergent) residue.
Which is easier to store?
OxiTab, by a wide margin. One small pail of 500 tablets equals 500 gallons of disinfectant. Rescue requires multiple gallons of liquid concentrate, jugs, and wipes for the same output, plus more frequent reorders.
Do I need to wipe or rinse after using OxiTab or Rescue?
No wiping needed for either — both allow air-dry on non-food-contact surfaces. Feeding and watering equipment (bowls, waterers) should be rinsed with potable water after disinfection.
Does OxiTab corrode surfaces or equipment?
Studies show NaDCC is far less corrosive to stainless steel than bleach. Rescue is also considered surface-safe. Both are appropriate for typical kennel, cage, and clinic surfaces when used per label.
References
- EPA Label: OxiTab (EPA Reg. No. 71847-6). epa.gov
- EPA Label: Rescue Concentrate (Reg. No. 74559-9). epa.gov
- CDC — Guideline on Disinfection and Sterilization (Chemical Disinfectants). cdc.gov
- EPA List N — Disinfectants for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). epa.gov
- EPA Pesticide Labels (how to find/verify labels). epa.gov/pesticide-labels
This comparison is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available data at the time of publication. Always follow product labels and consult your local regulations for disinfection protocols. OxiTab is an EPA-registered product; results depend on contact time and dilution. Rescue® is a registered trademark of its respective owner and is referenced here for comparison only.
The Disinfectant Animal-Care Pros TRUST
Non-hazardous. EPA-registered. Hospital-grade efficacy trusted across veterinary clinics, shelters, kennels, and grooming facilities coast to coast.
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